Life Saving Incident
December 3, 2018
On December 3, 2018, Merced County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Jason Goins and Captain Corey Gibson awarded Correctional Officer Mario Vergara with a lifesaving medal based on actions taken by Officer Vergara on August 29, 2018 at the John Latorraca Correctional Center. On that date, Officer Vergara quickly realized that a probation officer in the employee breakroom was choking and could not breathe. Officer Vergara took immediate action and performed several abdominal thrusts clearing the obstruction thus saving the probation officer’s life. This type of action goes above and beyond the typical duties of a Correctional Office and had Officer Vergara not take such swift action the situation would have undoubtedly ended in tragedy.
The history of law enforcement in the United States is a long and wonderful history of bravery. This website is dedicated to documenting the heroic deeds of law enforcement officers throughout the United States who have either given or risked their lives to save others. There are many stories of bravery and heroism for many who are considered first responders. However, it is those in law enforcement who are most likely to be the first to arrive upon a location requiring life saving acts engaging dangerous hostage takers, running into burning buildings/vehicles, providing first aid to seriously injured victims, saving near drowning victims and much more are what the women and men of law enforcement do routinely and at many times, great peril to their own safety.
It is our mission to document the history of lives saved by those dedicated women and men in law enforcement. To share with others the dramatic deeds of those individuals who are the first, first responders. It is so important for our citizens to understand that law "enforcement" is not always about enforcing the law but rather being there when our citizens need us.
It is to this end we are dedicated to promoting documentation regarding the history of law enforcement and the lives they have saved.
